Chapter 22 Chapter 22 She hadn't heard Prince Su was mute either...

Jiang Yue didn't need to find an excuse. Biezhi herself hadn't had time to look for Jiran again. She'd been out for six days, unable to find a chance to approach Xu Wenche. She could only quietly follow him around, protecting him.

On the seventh day, she didn't even have a chance to leave.

At dawn and dusk, the brightly lit Qin household bustled with activity once again.

Qin Wan arrived early with a group of servants in Biezhi's courtyard. The quiet and vast courtyard suddenly became bustling with activity. Biezhi had never seen such a scene before. She stood there in a daze, letting the makeup lady dress her. The seemingly simple process took nearly half an hour.

By the time she sat in the back, Biezhi, feeling like a puppet at the mercy of others, was getting restless.

She peered through the mirror at the makeup lady, who was constantly comparing her hairpins. She couldn't help but ask, "How long will it take?"

"Don't be impatient, young lady." The makeup lady lowered her eyes and replaced the hairpin. She stared at the girl's slightly puffed-up face in the mirror. Her makeup was as white as jade, her round, almond-shaped eyes watery, and she was incredibly tender. She said, "It'll be over in just a cup of tea."

Biezhi's eyes widened slightly. "Another cup of tea?"

Hearing the girl's slightly helpless, sweet voice, Qin Wan, who was outside the bedroom, instructing the servants to check in the front yard, glanced back and smiled, "Just bear with it a little longer. Today is your big day, and we can't let our guard down."

Biezhi's lips trembled slightly.

She didn't understand why the Qin family had thrown such a lavish banquet to announce the fake girl.

After a moment's gaze locked, Biezhi sighed deeply and curled her lips, "Alright."

Logically, even if Qin Wan and Qin Xiao didn't know her true identity, the Qin couple knew full well and were still organizing the banquet to the highest standards, surely with a purpose.

However, ever since she learned the Qin family was hosting the announcement banquet, Biezhi hadn't questioned them. Just as the Qin family never questioned her duties, she also avoided interfering too much in their affairs. Each side had its own needs.

Nearly two cups of tea passed before Biezhi was finally able to leave the courtyard.

Since it was her big day, she would wait at the gate with the Qin couple, welcoming the guests.

Carriages rolled in and out of the Qin residence one after another, the rustling of wheels over stones filling the air without a pause. Biezhi stood obediently beside Madam Qin, listening as she introduced the various noble ladies who had brought their daughters to the banquet.

Ding!

A gentle breeze rustled, and the bells hanging in front of the carriages tinkled.

The crisp, melodious sound drowned out the clamor. Biezhi instinctively lifted her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see the seals hanging from the two carriages swaying with the bells.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Madam Qin's eyes suddenly curved, the smile more genuine than before, and she knew the visitor had a close relationship with the Qin family.

Madam Qin approached, not forgetting to glance back and say, "The one who has arrived is Madam Su. She is a family friend, and our ancestors were close friends who traveled hand in hand. Su Ci, the second son of the Su family, and my—" Her eyes paused, and she changed the address. "I have known your brother and sister since childhood, and we have a very good relationship. If you need any help from the Su family in the future, you can ask for their help."

Biezhi nodded in understanding.

She had certainly heard of Su Ci's name.

At the age of eighteen, this man achieved three consecutive top-scoring titles, entering the imperial court that same year. During the late emperor's lifetime, he served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. The following year, he was promoted to a Hanlin Academy attendant, serving by the young emperor's side. Less than six months later, he was promoted to a Hanlin Academy lecturer. The following year, when Prince Su came to power

, he entered the cabinet and is now a prominent official. His smooth career was widely known among the common people, and there were even rumors that he was the reincarnation of Emperor Wenchang. Biezhi, while investigating Qin Xiao, also indirectly learned about Su Ci, and his relationship with Prince Su seemed even closer.

However, Su Ci did not come with Madam Su.

Madam Qin and Madam Su exchanged pleasantries for a while before inquiring about Su Ci's whereabouts. "Why didn't he come with us today?"

"He'll be here soon," Madam Su said with a smile. She turned to look at the girl standing obediently beside her, her smile deepening slightly. "I haven't heard you mention that our Biezhi is so well-behaved and charming, it makes people feel soft-hearted."

Madam Qin smiled and nodded in agreement.

She hadn't expected that the assassin who could be ranked among the best in Xianyun Tower was so cute and clever, like a vigorous winter jasmine, unafraid of the cold and unpredictable.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out on the bustling street. Everyone under the eaves turned their heads and, upon seeing the tall figure galloping towards them, whipped their horses, they all turned to face the newcomer and bowed.

Fu Huaiqing dismounted, his eyes fixed on the girl who saluted with lowered eyelids. He glanced at Jiang Yue, who then called everyone to their feet.

The man took two steps at a time, his raised skirt flowing in the wind. For a moment, he looked not like the powerful Prince Su, but more like a spirited young man.

Even though she thought he was a bit fierce, Biezhi still thought his appearance was superior, and among the men she had met, no one could compare to him.

It was a pity, he was just a little too fierce.

When he was silent, his sharp and cold expression was intimidating.

Biezhi paused in her thoughts.

It suddenly occurred to her that she seemed to have never heard the voice of Prince Su...

not even once.

Although they had only met twice, they had more or less interacted during those two times, but she had indeed never heard him speak. He

even said that he had no opinion about her!

If he had no opinion, how could he not say a word, not even a nod or a hum.

She had never heard that Prince Su was mute...

Biezhi raised her eyes and looked in the direction of Prince Su with a strange feeling in her heart. As she raised her eyes slightly, she met the depths of the man's dark and obscure pupils.

Suddenly, an inexplicable tingling sensation that came from nowhere spread through her limbs. Her eyelashes trembled and she quickly lowered her eyes.

She suddenly felt that her idea was very correct. When she looked for a husband in the future, she would still find a handsome man to keep in her house.

Even if he was menacing, he was a handsome, menacing man, not some grotesque, menacingly ugly man.

Qin Peibai stepped forward, accompanied by his wife and Biezhi.

Jiang Yue, who was following Fu Huaiqing, stopped Qin Peibai from bowing again. His eyes flicked to Biezhi, whose mind was wandering. He took the box from the guard and handed it forward, saying, "Your Highness, having learned of Lord Qin's joy at finding his second daughter, has come to congratulate you." "

Thank you, Your Highness," Qin Peibai took the box and handed it to Biezhi beside him, whispering, "Your Highness must express your gratitude."

Biezhi, having scribbled on the etiquette of aristocratic families, naturally understood this. She bent her knees slightly, but before she could speak, a folding fan pressed against her palm and lifted slightly, interrupting her movements.

The guests, who had deliberately slowed their pace and paused outside, saw this and their expressions changed slightly.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to sigh at the deep relationship between the Qin family and Prince Su, or to envy the fact that the second daughter of the Qin family had caught Prince Su's eye. This was why he acted so casually in public.

He clearly told everyone present that he recognized the identity of the second daughter of the Qin family.

It was silent all around. Biezhi blinked and carefully raised her eyelids to look at the man with a calm expression. Their eyes met for a long time, but he didn't speak

. Biezhi was confused and didn't understand what was going on.

Fu Huaiqing slowly put away his folding fan without saying a word.

Biezhi: "..."

If Biezhi hadn't heard about the deeds of His Royal Highness Prince Su, he would really have thought he was a little mute.

A little mute who pretended to be profound and played deaf and dumb. He

was simply a replica of Ji Ran, one couldn't hear and the other didn't speak, but Ji Ran really couldn't hear, while Prince Su was just pretending to be dumb.

Qin Peibai didn't understand what was going on either. He caught a glimpse of Jiang Yue's expression from the corner of his eye, and understood what he meant, stepping aside to make way, saying, "Your Highness, please come this way."

Fu Huaiqing glanced at the girl with a slightly surprised look in her eyes, and walked towards the main hall with no expression on his face.

Jiang Yue followed him, catching a glimpse of his prince's pause in his steps. He paused, looking in confusion. The next moment, his master's voice, a hint of contemplation, echoed in his ears.

"Go and see if there's a way to change his voice," Fu Huaiqing said.

Jiang Yue was stunned. "Change his voice?"

Where would he look?

Fu Huaiqing glanced at him with a calm expression.

Jiang Yue coughed lightly, "I'll go right away."

In Xianyun Tower, except for Ling Feng and the others who knew that the head of Xianyun Tower was Prince Su, the others were kept in the dark about the relationship between Xianyun Tower and Prince Su. Biezhi was one of them.

She had never met the head of Xianyun Tower, but his voice was imprinted in her memory.

If Fu Huaiqing spoke to her at that moment, even a brief "hmm," she would immediately understand: Prince Su was her master.

Naturally, Biezhi would pack her bags and flee the capital that night.

Therefore, Fu Huaiqing couldn't speak rashly unless it was absolutely necessary, but if he didn't speak, how could he ease her impression of him.

A subtle hint of depression flashed across Fu Huaiqing

's eyes. Biezhi, who was still welcoming the guests, didn't notice anything about this. She followed Madam Qin, sometimes going forward to greet the guests, sometimes leading the guests over the threshold, and then going under the eaves to wait for the next group of guests.

Over the past hour or so, the traffic in front of the Qin Mansion gradually stopped.

Seeing the deserted street, Biezhi, who had been standing for a long time, subconsciously stretched her back. Halfway through, she realized that she was now the second daughter of the Qin family, and silently retracted her arm that was suspended in the air.

She withdrew her gaze and was about to ask what to do next when she caught a glimpse of Qin Peibai's slightly serious expression, his eyes fixed on the road on the south side of Ning'an Street.

Biezhi's slightly parted lips pursed, and she looked at them thoughtfully.

At that moment, the long-silent cobblestone road began to rustle once more. Qin Peibai glanced up, and the sternness on his face faded slightly as he saw the slowly approaching carriage.

Biezhi raised an eyebrow and followed his gaze.

The carriage stopped at the steps of the Qin residence. Soon, a man of Qin Peibai's age, lifting a curtain, emerged. After disembarking, his steps quickened noticeably, a smile on his face as he said repeatedly, "I have family matters to attend to, and I am late. I beg your pardon, Lord Qin."

"Lord Zhang, you are too polite," Qin Peibai said with a smile, stepping aside to make way for him. "The banquet hasn't started yet, so it's not too late."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Lord Qin," Zhang Yan said again politely.

A subtle scrutiny flashed across Biezhi's eyes, clearly sensing that their relationship wasn't harmonious, perhaps even unfamiliar. But for someone to have kept Qin Peibai waiting for so long, this person was clearly no ordinary person.

As Zhang Yan glanced sideways, Biezhi suppressed her thoughts and feigned obedience.

Their eyes met, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Seeing the girl's face clearly, Zhang Yan was startled, his pupils shrinking slightly. He subconsciously glanced sideways at the silent, smiling Madam Qin, then at the girl, who smiled brightly.

Alike, so alike...

The girl before him, like that person, was cast from the same mold.

A face from deep within his memory suddenly flooded into his mind, and Zhang Yan's eyebrows jumped, but his smile remained undimmed. "Is this the second young lady?"

"Yes," Qin Peibai smiled, glancing at Biezhi behind him.

"I heard that the second young lady had been living in another place before," Zhang Yan looked at Biezhi, "It's far away from Beijing, and it's not easy to find her."

Qin Peibai heard the tentativeness in his words, smiled, and said, "Huishui Town is indeed far away from Beijing."

"Huishui Town--" Zhang Yan's eyes turned slightly, and said, "It's also a place to raise people. I still want to congratulate Lord Qin for getting his wish and finding his second daughter."

Qin Peibai laughed out loud, "Lord Zhang, please come in."

Then, the two walked towards the mansion one after the other.

Biezhi looked at the two figures in front. From what she heard, their official positions were far lower than Qin Peibai's, but Qin Peibai seemed to have some intention of winning him over.

She frowned and glanced at Mrs. Qin who was also behind.

Biezhi pondered for a moment. After all, the Qin family had helped her, and she didn't want to see them step into the fire pit.

She lowered her voice a little and said, "There is a high probability that this person is not right."